| COUNTRY |
| India |
| EDUCATION |
| Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering, Rashtrasant Tukodoji Maharaj Nagpur University |
| SUMMARY |
| After dreaming of working in Japan for years, an Indian mechanical engineer finally moved to Osaka to begin his first full-time job through FAST OFFER. Starting a career in Japan as a foreign professional came with valuable lessons. He learned to adapt to Japanese work culture and live independently in a new country. Although he faced challenges such as loneliness, language barriers, and cultural differences, he persevered and continued to grow both personally and professionally. In this story, he also shares practical tips on exploring Japan during weekends, even with a busy work schedule. Read his full journey and discover how the experience of working in Japan became a meaningful chapter in his life. |
Landing a Job in Japan Was a Dream Come True
Starting my first job in Japan as a foreigner was a dream come true. Like many foreign talents who pursued a career in Japan, I first became interested in working and living there because of anime. I enjoyed series like Naruto and Jujutsu Kaisen. But what intrigued me even more was Japanese culture itself. I wanted to experience everyday life and see the country with my own eyes.
In 2023, I finally got a job offer from a Japanese company through FAST OFFER. Soon after, I moved to Osaka to begin my first full-time job. Looking back, it was one of the most significant decisions in my life.
Starting My First Engineering Job in Japan as a Foreigner and a Fresh Graduate
Japan became my first experience of what working life meant. The first few months felt amazing. Everything was exciting. Even simple things like commuting by train and after-work dinners felt amazing. And every weekend felt like another opportunity to discover somewhere new. I call those first three months my “honeymoon phase.” But after that, reality slowly began to set in. The work became more challenging, my responsibilities increased, and I realized that adapting to Japanese communication would be much harder than I expected.
From Manufacturing Equipment to Automotive Engineering in Japan
My first job in Japan was as a Mechanical Design Engineer, where I worked on the design and development of a high-speed diaper manufacturing machine. It was exciting to apply the mechanical design skills I had learned at university to a real product.
My responsibilities included creating and modifying 2D engineering drawings and supporting the development of industrial manufacturing equipment. Through this role, I gained hands-on experience while becoming more familiar with Japan’s engineering standards and work culture.
After that, I joined a Tier 1 automotive supplier that develops Electric Power Steering (EPS) systems. Since I was new to the company, I spent my first few months learning its development processes and completing training while supporting the team with engineering documentation. Although I was still in the early stages of my role, I appreciated the company’s structured approach to training, which helped me build a strong foundation before taking on more technical responsibilities.
Looking back, both roles became important steps in my growth as an engineer. The experiences I gained strengthened my technical skills and taught me how to adapt in Japan’s engineering industry.
Adjusting to Work Life in Japan: Dealing with Cultural Differences, Learning Unspoken Rules
Many people think the hardest part of living in Japan is mastering the language. However, communication isn’t just about knowing correct grammar or the right kanji; you also have to be aware of some nuances. In my experience, Japanese can be a high-context language.
Here are some of the unspoken communication rules I learned from starting my first engineering job in Japan as a foreigner:
- Silence is a form of communication. I realized that communication wasn’t only about words. Silence had a meaning. At first, I found this confusing. If I asked someone a question and they became silent, my first reaction was to wonder if they hadn’t heard me or were ignoring me. Later, I realized they were thinking carefully before answering.
- Read the atmosphere. During my first week at work. I hadn’t been assigned many tasks yet, so after a few days I walked over to my manager and politely asked if there was any work I could help with. Back home, that would have been considered initiative. Instead, everyone looked surprised! Only later did I understand that if there was work available, my manager would approach me. It wasn’t necessary to ask for tasks repeatedly. All I have to do is stay available. Moments like these taught me that Japanese workplaces often rely on observation instead of verbal explanation. At first, this felt stressful. Eventually, I became better at reading the atmosphere before acting.
- Communicate efficiently. Instead of long discussions, people focused on the conclusion first. When presenting my work, I learned to explain the final result before describing the detailed process. The goal wasn’t to speak more. It was to communicate efficiently.
- Japanese offices are quiet. One thing that surprised me was just how quiet Japanese offices could be. Sometimes my teammate was sitting directly across from me, but instead of speaking face-to-face, we would message each other through Microsoft Teams. Even though we were only a few steps apart.
- Learning Japanese never stops. As a foreign worker, you’ll constantly learn something new. Reading technical documents filled with kanji was especially difficult. Japanese also has many words that sound almost identical but have completely different meanings. One small pronunciation mistake can completely change what you’re trying to say. Although those moments could be embarrassing, they also became part of the learning process. Every day at work improved my Japanese a little more.
Life in Japan Outside Work
Starting my first engineering job in Japan as a foreigner was only part of the journey. As a foreigner living alone for the first time, I also had to learn how to navigate everyday life. Paying rent, finding vegetarian-friendly meals, balancing work with weekend trips across Japan — all of these things I experienced for the first time. Each experience helped me become more independent and confident. Here are some of the highlights from my journey outside of work.
Finding a place to live in
When choosing an apartment, I recommend living slightly outside the city center. The rent is much cheaper, and commuting by train is still convenient. I also preferred living in a small apartment. It was easier to clean, less expensive, and helped me save money.
Living in Japan as a vegetarian
As a vegetarian, most of the time, I cook for myself because it was more affordable. Fortunately, Osaka has several Indian grocery stores that import ingredients directly from India. That made a huge difference! My advice for vegetarians moving to Japan is to look for grocery stores from your own country. Whether you’re from India, Indonesia, or somewhere else, there are usually communities that import familiar ingredients. Japan also has more vegan and vegetarian restaurants than many people expect, especially in larger cities.
Exploring Japan on the weekends
Living in Osaka made traveling incredibly convenient. During normal weekends, I visited nearby places like Kyoto and Nara. I could leave early in the morning, spend the whole day sightseeing, and return home at night.
For longer holidays such as Golden Week, I planned bigger trips. One of my favorite destinations was Amanohashidate. Standing there, surrounded by beautiful scenery, I felt all my work stress disappear. I also visited Hiroshima and Miyajima! Those trips reminded me why I wanted to move to Japan in the first place. Even if I came home at two or three in the morning before work the next day, I never regretted it. Exploring Japan became one of the best parts of living there.
Would I Recommend Starting Your First Job in Japan? Absolutely!
Even with the challenges that I faced starting my first job in Japan as a foreign worker, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Japan offers incredible opportunities for young engineers to build technical skills and international experience.
But I also believe it’s important to prepare for cultural differences. Learn as much Japanese as you can before arriving. Understand that communication may be indirect. Don’t expect every rule to be explained. Observe carefully. Listen more.
If I could give one piece of advice to the version of myself who first boarded that plane to Japan, it would be to expect less and give more. When you focus less on what others should do for you and more on understanding the people around you, adapting becomes much easier. Japan may challenge you in ways you never imagined. But if you’re willing to learn, it can also become one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. Starting my career in Japan.
